TAMPA, FL – EventFest, Inc. and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla are proud to announce Delwyn Collins as the Grand Marshall of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet. Collins is known for his work as the “Santa of Tampa General Hospital” because of his magnificent collection of toys for Foster Angels of Hillsborough County’s Angel Tree program.

Raised by a struggling, single working mom, Collins was often teased growing up due to his learning disabilities and being legally blind. Because of his circumstances as a young boy, he empathizes with kids going through tough times and dedicates a large portion of his earnings every year to buying Christmas Gifts for children in need.

Collins participation in the Angel Tree Program began in 1989 and has remained steadfast every year since; during his participation in the program, Collins has donated thousands of gifts. In order to fund this big venture, Collins is cognizant of toy sales throughout the year and does extra yard work on the side to earn money outside his normal paycheck. Collins’ day job earns him a modest hourly wage as a TGH dishwasher.

“What better way to honor the exemplary work Mr. Collins has done for children in Tampa than to have him as the Grand Marshall of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet. I hope that Mr. Collins example of what it means to be a hometown hero will inspire others to follow in his footsteps,” said Darrell Stefany, President of EventFest, Inc.

The 2015 McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The alcohol-free McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza focuses on family friendly activities along Bayshore Boulevard and will feature the Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll, the Gasparilla Air Invasion, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade, and the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza presented by McDonald’s. Details can be found at www.GasparillaExtravaganza.com.

The Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet –part of Tampa’s Gasparilla celebration since 1947, will begin at Bay to Bay and Bayshore at 3:30 p.m. Children ages 6 and up will parade down Bayshore Boulevard, ending at Edison and Bayshore. The 2015 Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet will include 102 units, featuring dance units, spectacular floats, and over 40 krewes. For the third year, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade will be broadcast live on FOX13 on January 24, 2015 from 4 – 6 p.m. The parade will also be streamed live on www.MyFoxTampBay.com.

The event concludes with the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza presented by McDonald’s, with Tampa Bay’s largest pyrotechnic display of the year launched over western Hillsborough Bay. This year’s show will be produced for the first time by PYROTECHNICO, presenting a specially choreographed presentation re-creating the imaginary battle between the City of Tampa and the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Following another successful “attack” that the invading pirates have won since 1904, the City of Tampa is “defenseless” and the stage is set for a smooth and festive Gasparilla Invasion by the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla on the following Saturday (January 31, 2015).

Finally, the evening debuts a magnificent and unique presentation of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s pirate Ship - the Jose Gasparilla, as specially rigged up-lighting will lite-up the ship’s masts and rigging in a magical display of color and special effects. This visual display will be presented each evening from approximately 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. starting on January 24th and ending on Tuesday, January 27th off of ye waters east of Howard Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa.

FOX13 Tampa Bay returns as exclusive television sponsor, and will broadcast the Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet live on January 24, 2015 from 4 – 6 p.m. The entire parade will also be streamed live on www.MyFoxTampBay.com beginning at 4 p.m. Following their evening news, FOX 13 will return “live” to Show Center near Howard and Bayshore and broadcast the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza, presented by McDonald’s from 7 – 7:30 p.m.

The musical soundtrack which accompanies the “Piratechnic” Extravaganza is played over concert-quality speakers near Show Center at Howard and Bayshore. Due to the precision of the bursts timed with the music, the Show is best seen and heard from near Show Center at Howard and Bayshore Special McDonald’s memories will be seen and heard during the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza broadcast live on FOX 13 at 7 p.m. on January 24, 2015.

Those wanting to attend the Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet can still purchase up tickets tomorrow beginning at 10 AM. Ticket tents will be located at the following intersections: West Barcelona Street and Bayshore Boulevard; South Ardson Place and Bayshore Boulevard; South Rome Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard. Children’s Gasparilla Parade Driven by Chevrolet Tickets will be $40 for bleacher seating; cash and major credit cards will be accepted

TAMPA, FL – EventFest, Inc. and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla are proud to welcome back McDonald’s® as title sponsor of the 2015 Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza. This is McDonald’s® sixth consecutive year sponsoring the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza, the alcohol-free kick-off event to Tampa’s historic Gasparilla celebration.

"McDonald's of Tampa Bay is very pleased to continue our partnership with the Children's Gasparilla Extravaganza as the title sponsor this year," said Blake Casper, McDonald's of Tampa Bay Co-op president. "We enjoy being a part of such a wonderful tradition that brings so much joy to the community."

“The Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza has grown to be recognized as one of the nation’s premier family events, and has become perhaps the largest children’s parade in the country” said Darrell Stefany, President of EventFest, Inc. “Tampa has enjoyed Gasparilla for generations, but recent growth of this community tradition is only made possible by the support of our friends at McDonald’s along with our other event sponsors.”

FOX13 Tampa Bay returns as exclusive television sponsor, and will broadcast the Children’s Gasparilla Parade live on January 24, 2015 from 4 – 6 p.m. The entire parade will also be streamed live on www.MyFoxTampBay.com beginning at 4 p.m. Following their evening news, FOX 13 will return “live” to Show Center near Howard and Bayshore and broadcast the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza, presented by McDonald’s from 7 – 7:30 p.m.

The 2015 McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The alcohol-free McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza focuses on family friendly activities along Bayshore Boulevard and will feature the Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll, the Gasparilla Air Invasion, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade, and the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza presented by McDonald’s. Details can be found at www.GasparillaExtravaganza.com.

The Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll Tampa has a new route in 2015, and will begin at Howard and Bayshore and conclude at Rome Avenue. This half mile route is limited to Tampa’s “pint-sized” pirates, children 5 and under, (and their families) and provides families and groups the opportunity to dress up and creatively decorate their wagons and strollers as they celebrate the return of the Gasparilla season. The 2015 Stroll will feature over 1,200 participants, as Tampa’s next generation of pirates make their way up Bayshore Boulevard to the delight of thousands. The Stroll begins at 1:30 p.m.

“The Para-Commandos” - the United States Special Operations Command Parachute Team, will be featured at 3 p.m. as part of the event’s Gasparilla Air Invasion as they land on Bayshore Boulevard near show center just prior to the start of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade.

The Children’s Gasparilla Parade –part of Tampa’s Gasparilla celebration since 1947, will begin at Bay to Bay and Bayshore at 3:30 p.m. Children ages 6 and up will dance, march and parade down Bayshore Boulevard, and NEW in 2015, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade has been extended by four (4) blocks and will end at Edison and Bayshore. The extension of the parade route will allow extra viewing, and help accommodate the extremely large crowds found each year at the north end of the event’s parade route. The 2015 Children’s Gasparilla Parade will include 102 units, featuring dance units, spectacular floats, and over 40 krewes. For the third year, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade will be broadcast live on FOX13 on January 24, 2015 from 4 – 6 p.m. The parade will also be streamed live on www.MyFoxTampBay.com.

The event concludes with the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza presented by McDonald’s, with Tampa Bay’s largest pyrotechnic display of the year launched over western Hillsborough Bay. This year’s show will be produced for the first time by PYROTECHNICO, presenting a specially choreographed presentation re-creating the imaginary battle between the City of Tampa and the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Following another successful “attack” that the invading pirates have won since 1904, the City of Tampa is “defenseless” and the stage is set for a smooth and festive Gasparilla Invasion by the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla on the following Saturday (January 31, 2015).

The musical soundtrack which accompanies the “Piratechnic” Extravaganza is played over concert-quality speakers near Show Center at Howard and Bayshore. Due to the precision of the bursts timed with the music, the Show is best seen and heard from near Show Center at Howard and Bayshore Special McDonald’s memories will be seen and heard during the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza broadcast live on FOX 13 at 7 p.m. on January 24, 2015. More details of the 2015 “Piratechnic” Extravaganza presentation will be released in mid-January 2015.

Finally, the evening debuts a magnificent and unique presentation of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s pirate Ship - the Jose Gasparilla, as specially rigged up-lighting will lite-up the ship’s masts and rigging in a magical display of color and special effects. This visual display will be presented each evening from approximately 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. starting on January 24th and ending on Tuesday, January 27th off of ye waters east of Howard Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa.

Reserved Children’s Gasparilla Parade bleacher seating tickets are $33 and First Mate seating is $48, tax included. For additional information or to purchase Children’s Gasparilla Parade tickets and/or officially licensed Gasparilla Treasures merchandise, please visit www.GasparillaTreasures.com. Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling EventFest’s Gasparilla Ticket Reservation Line at (813) 251- 8844. A ticket representative will be available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Reserved Seating for the McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza is limited for the 2015 event. All reserved ticket orders are filled in the order they are received, therefore guests should order their reserved tickets early to best accommodate any seating preference they may desire.